Memory Support Advisor

Dementia Forward

George Armitage House

Church Lane

Burton Leonard

HG3 3SD

Registered Charity 1148225

Job title: Memory Support Advisor

1. Main purpose of the job

To work as part of integrated teams, providing an advisory role and coordinating the pathway for people experiencing early signs of cognitive decline. Assisting the families affected to find appropriate support and advice, and ensuring that they progress along the correct assessment pathways.

2. Position in the organisation
- Reports to Dementia Forward Clinical Lead
- Whilst the main work is carried out by providing a clinic model within GP surgeries and frailty clinics, working closely with our statutory partners within Primary care, the role will also be embedded into the wider Dementia Forward team of Dementia support Advisors and Help line staff.
- Liaises at all levels internally and with health and social care professionals externally, as well as other providers

3. Scope of the job
- To improve the patient experience by early identification of dementia, assisting memory assessments and capturing information to support a referral to memory clinic.
- There will be an emphasis on running clinic appointments, being part of existing Frailty clinics and running city wide clinics linked to GP practices.
- To provide home visits when deemed necessary in order to ensure that people who are unable to attend clinics have equal access to the support and assessment that they need.
- To carry out proactive case finding, to support primary care staff to identify people whose diagnosis may have been missed.
- To record and maintain patient record keeping.
- To provide a clear and accessible point of contact for guidance, support and navigation of memory clinic waiting times.
- To deal with requests for advice and information, and to refer and signpost into support through a range of available services. This role will be fully integrated into local service delivery, encompassing contributions from health, social care and voluntary agencies.
- To connect families to support and to provide a referral route into Dementia Forward for ongoing support needs, encompassing all patients with cognitive impairment and dementia.

4. Duties and key responsibilities
- Negotiating with all involved in care issues to establish and promote good working relationships and improve the coordination of the patient journey.
- Establishing effective communication networks with clinicians and other team members, ensuring the continuation of good communication.
- Developing close working relationships with Frailty clinic multi-disciplinary team members and care coordinators, in order to recognise and review cognitive impairment.
- Providing Dementia related information which will include signposting to other agencies if appropriate.
- Recognising people’s needs for alternative methods of communication and responding accordingly.
- Liaising between Dementia Forward and primary care, identifying where ongoing support may be needed.
- Actively undertake mandatory training in the following areas: - Safeguarding, Mental Capacity Act, Health & Safety at work, Policies and Procedures, Lone Working, First Aid.
- Being prepared to undertake further training should it be deemed appropriate and relevant to the primary care MSA role.

In order to achieve this, Memory Support Advisors are expected to:

- Fully understand the opportunities that early diagnosis or pre-diagnosis support can present.
- Endeavour to learn and keep up dated on medical jargon and new updates relevant to someone with a memory problem.
- Be aware of information that is available from other organisations and be willing to research where needed.
- Obtain and maintain a good knowledge of other providers and stakeholders in the area who can provide additional support to service users.

This job description is not exhaustive and serves only to highlight the main requirements of the job content. The line manager may stipulate other reasonable requirements.

Person Specification

This post requires a person who can work proactively and flexibly across different teams with the aim of giving the best advice, support and assessment for people with a cognitive impairment.

All of the following requirements are desirable and those marked with an asterisk

Education and Qualifications

GCSE Mathematics Grade C or above (or equivalent)

GCSE English Language Grade C or above (or equivalent)

Skills and experience

An understanding of the needs of people with dementia and their carers

Evidence of excellent organisational skills

Good presentation and interpersonal skills

Excellent communication skills both written and verbal

Good time management skills

Experience in collaborative working

Personal Attributes/ Qualities
- Enthusiastic and self-motivated
- Able to show empathy for people with dementia and their carers
- Trustworthy and patient
- Flexible
- A good relationship builder
- Enjoys working as part of a team
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